Revamping an old P7

[ZardHex]

Hey CPF'ers got a question for ya...

Bicycling season is about to start up, and i dug out my trusty bike mate, an old DealExtreme mte ssc p7-c 2-mode for some cleaning/soldering and noticed that my reflector(the old plastic coated OP, not the newer aluminum OP) has developed little spots that wont come out with mild cleaners(avoiding any sort of solvents)...i also noticed that the finish is so dull that it might be stealing lumens from my P7....now i've debated on trying to over-compensate by swapping out the p7 for an XM-L led, but i think that the reflector may be holding me back, and im a "bang-for-the-buck" diy-er....is there any sort of paint/lacquer i could use to freshen up the reflector to give me a little boost in output? Or should i just retire the whole light for another project and spring for a P60 style light with a XM-L with OP drop-in (using a single 18650?) I need the beam pattern i've had....just a little more throw/spill, as i mainly ride on unlit asphalt roads

 

[ZardHex]

ok...nobody? I've looked through countless threads on the subject and they've all pertained to machining aluminum reflectors/creating OP from SMO...i'm looking for a simple, cheap solution guys...anybody tried anything similar?

 

[jdp298]

For the reflector, washing up liquid sorted out the reflector and yellowed lens of an old Sturmey-Archer dynamo light. Failing that, carefully shaped tin-foil, probably held down with PVA glue or something similar which allows adjustment while wet.

And how narrow is the reflector? If you want a tighter concentration but without a hard cut-off, Maplin do some nice LED lenses which I use in old dynamo lights where the reflector is too wide-angle. Look under high power LEDs and take the 8 or 10 degree ones.

 

[ZardHex]

Reflector is small (about 1.5in at the wide end tapering back about 1.25in in length also) i actually tried your tin foil trick, jdp, but my big fat fingers make it a tedious process :ohgeez:so im thinking if i could make some small delicate tweezers with a pair of cotton swabs then i will have another go at it...one question, tho: would it be better to remove all the old reflective material with a solvent first, or just leave it on?

 

[cehowardGS]

Reflector is small (about 1.5in at the wide end tapering back about 1.25in in length also) i actually tried your tin foil trick, jdp, but my big fat fingers make it a tedious process :ohgeez:so im thinking if i could make some small delicate tweezers with a pair of cotton swabs then i will have another go at it...one question, tho: would it be better to remove all the old reflective material with a solvent first, or just leave it on?

I am a newbie, but here is my take. With the dropping prices of the lights, I would swing for a new light. Since you mention XM-L types running off of 18650, I would go there. I run them in pairs on my bike. IMO, a single would do just find. Here is one of the setups I have on one of my bikes. Two Keygos Ke-5, Planet Bike Superflash Turbo on the rear, on the helmet a $2.50 wonder rear light.. IMO, one could run one of those Keygos Ke-5 or similiar (they got many), one of the $2.50 wonder lights and be under $25..;)